Valve



Sept. 5, 1939. H, G, VANCE 2,171,613

VALVE Filed May 29, 193? REDUCED Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE VALVE Harvey G. Vance, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 29, 1937, Serial No. 145,612

8 Claims.

This invention relates to valves.

An object of the invention is the provision of a pilot valve controllingthe operation of a main valve in accordance with pressure at the highpressure side of the main valve, the pilot valve controlling the flow ofhigh pressure iluid to a chamber in the main valve which operates adiaphragm, piston or other means to open said main valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pilot valve forcontrolling the operation of a main valve in accordance with pressure atthe high pressure side of the main valve, said pilot valve includingmeans to depress a stem connected with a diaphragm, a compressionchamber for moving the diaphragm against the tension of the depressingmeans, and a pair 0f cooperating valves, one controlling the flow ofhigh pressure uid to one side of a diaphragm, or means for causingopening of the main valve, the other valve releasing pressure causingclosure of said main valve.

Another object of the invention is the use and arrangement of a singlerelief valve performing two separate operations in eifecting release ofpressure to permit the main valve to approach closing position.

And still another object of the invention is the provision of a reducingvalve having a minimum of friction and where all of the parts may bereadily replaced, at valve seats being employed in connection withspecially constructed valves and holders so that binding will beeliminated.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reducingvalve in which a relief valve and a pilot valve are operated by means ofa vertically operating stem and pin so that direct downward pressure ishad and binding and lost motion are eliminated, the pin being so con- 40, structed that sudden application of pressure to the main valvediaphragm is obviated.

This invention will be best understood from a' construction,

is a fragmentary vertical section showdisk,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 ofFigure 2,

Referring more particularly to the drawing, IU generally designates ahousing for a main valve This housing has an inlet passage I2 for highpressure iluid and an outlet passage I3.

A diaphragm Il is secured at its periphery between the upper end I5 ofthe housing and a cover plate Ii in any approved manner. A pilot valvehousing generally designated by the numeral I'I is secured to the coverplate I6 and has its lower end in open communication with a chamber I8formed between the cover plate I6 and the diaphragm Il, so that highpressure Huid which enters the chamber |8 from the pilot housing II willact on the diaphragm I4 and force it downwardly against the tension of aspring I9, which has its upper end in engagement with a nut 20 threadedon to a stem 2|.

The opposite end of the spring rests upon a shoulder 22 of the housingThe stem 2|, it will be noted, is slidably mounted in a passage 23formed in the shoulder ing means 25a in a cup-shaped holder 25.

The specially constructed cup-shaped member 25 is provided for holdingthe main valve and is provided with a depending sleeve 26 which receivesa post 21 carried by the base plate 28 connected to the housing by meansof bolts 29. The cup-shaped member has a greater diameter than the valveand at the exact center of the bottom of the cup-shaped member isprovided a semi-spherical projection upon which the valve disk rests.The retaining means 25a are attached to the sides of the cup 25 andproject inwardly and loosely iit within the groove IIa in the peripheryof the valve disk I I. It will be seen that this specially constructedvalve disk holder allows free frictionless movement of valve disk in anydirection.

A seat ring 30 is threaded at 3| into an opening formed in a shoulder orpartition 32,

lower end The of the seat ring is provided with an annular flange 33against which the valve |I is pressed by the action of a spring 3l andfluid pressure.

valve I I.

The flange 33 acts as a seat for the The upper end of the spring is inengagement with the underface of the cupshaped member 25, while thelower end of the spring rests upon the base plate 28 and surrounds thesleeve 26.-

A pipe 35 is in open communication with an inlet pipe 36 whichcommunicates with the inlet port l2. An outlet pipe 31 is adapted todrain oi the reduced pressure from the housing of the pilot valve, aswill be presently explained. This pipe, however, is connected with adischarge pipe 38 that is in communication with the outlet port I3 ofthe housing I 0. y

A pilot valve construction cooperates with the main valve constructionin such a manner that the opening of the valve II will depend upon theoperation of the pilot valve construction in the housing I1.

The housing I1 consists of an upper shell 4I! and a lower shell 4I withboth of the shells havlng annular flanges 42 and 43 respectively, andthese flanges, as shown at 44, are bolted together. Before theseflanges, however, are bolted together, the periphery of a diaphragm islocated between the ange of the shells 40 and 4 I, so that when thebolts 44 are drawn up tight the diaphragm will be rigidly secured inplace. At opposite sides of the diaphragm 45 are disposed nuts 46 and 41and a stem 48 is threaded at 49 into the nuts, and thereby lock the stem48 to said diaphragm. Y

A coil spring 50 is located in the upper reduced end 5I of the shell 40,and has one end received by a cup-shaped member 52 while the oppositeend of the spring rests upon the nut 46 and embraces a boss 53 on saidnut.

A screw 54 is threaded at 55 into a boss 56 at the upper end of theextension 5I and has a. rounded portion 51 engaging a seat 58 in thecupshaped member 52. A cap 59 is threaded on to the boss 56 to permitaccidental displacement of the setting of the screw 54. Said screw isadjusted to increase the tension of the spring 58 on the diaphragm 45when necessary.

A spring 68 has its upper end located in a seat at the underface of thenut 41. The lower end of the spring is seated within a hollowed cupsection of a flanged valve 6I. This relief valve is slidably mounted ina hollow boss 82 formed in the member 63, and on the stem $58.

The member 63 in the form of a plug with a, flange 66 is threaded at 64into a reduced section 65 of the shell 4I so that it may be detachedfrom said member. A central passage @la in the relief valve 6I isprovided for the stem t8. An enlarged portion 48h of the stem t8 isreceived by a central passage 63a in the plug 63. The plug has anenlarged passage or chamber into which projects an annular flange 61against which rests a pilot seat ring 82. The central passage is formedin a skirt 68a depending from the plug 63 and has internal threads intowhich is screwed a plug 68. This plug secures the disk in place.

The plug 68 has a central passage 18. An extension 1I is formed at thebottom of the plug 58 and is provided With a plurality of radiallyinclined passages 12 leading to the central passage 10 in the plug 68. Aspring 13 is located in the passage 10 and has its lower end resting onthe bottom of the extension 1l while the upper end engages a slidablemember 14. It will be noted that the body member 53, when screwed intothe upper part of the section of the shell 4I at 64 separates thisinterior of said section into two parts, top chamber lla and bottomchamber 69. The bottom chamber is in communication with pressure pipe 35through passageway 15.

A closure 15 is threaded into the lower open end of the lower shell 45and closes the central passage 59 to the pressure chamber I8 in the mainvalve housing. The closure may be formed integrally with the section 65since the plug 63 together with the plug 68 arid the enclosed pilotvalve construction.

A pilot valve 11 is located in a pocket 18 formed in the upper end ofthe slidable member 14 and is forced downward by pin 19 having a head 80detachably mounted in a pocket 8l in the lower end of the stem 48.

A at disk 82 held in place by the removable plug 68 'divides the centralpassage into an inlet pocket 84 and an outlet pocket 85. 'I'he disc alsohas a central discharge passage 86 which has a greater cross-sectionalarea than the pin 19, thereby providing a passage so that the fluid maypass from the inlet pocket 84 to the outlet pocket 35.

The lower casing 4I of the housing I1 has a plurality of verticallydisposed passages 8|! which communicate with the horizontal passages '9|formed in the member 63 and the passages 92 connect the passages 9I withthe outlet pocket 85.

The member 63 is also provided with relief passages 93 which are incommunication with the outlet pocket 85 and are normally closed at theirupper ends by the relief valve 8 I. When the relief valve is raised,these passages 98 are placed in communication with passages 94, alsoformed in the member 63 and extending radially from the passages 68.

The operation of my device is as follows: The pilot valve constructionin the housing i1 is adapted to. control the operation of the main valvell in accordance with the pressure of the fluid from the pipe 36.

The spring i8 of the main valve tends to move the diaphragm i4 to theinward position shown in Figure 1, while the spring 34 tends to maintainthe main valve i i closed. Thus it will be seen that both springs l@ and34 cooperate to maintain the valve il in closed position.

Pressure fluid within the pipe 35 flows through inlet i2 against thebottom of main valve li, and since pilot pipe 35 is in communicationwith the pipe 35, uid pressure will ow through passages 15 to thecentral chamber 89 of the shell fil (Fig. 2) and then through passages12 and 18 in the plug 68 to inlet pocket 84, to outlet 85, and thenthrough passages 82, 9i and 90 to pressure chamber t3, and with theaccumulation of suflicient pressure to overcome forces assisting mainvalve to remain closed diaphragm i4 will be deflected and open mainvalve ii, permitting flow of iluid to the reduced pressure side intopipe 38, pilot pipe 31 and passage 31a into pressure chamber dla. 'Whenthe pressure Within this chamber is sumciently great, diaphragm 45 willbe forced upwardly, carrying with it stem 48 and pin 19, allowing thepilot valve to close. Please note at this point that we have pilot valve11 closed, relief valve 6l closed, it being slidable on stem 48, andmain valve II open.

When the supply of fluid under pressure passing through main valve IIexceeds consumption, the uid pressure in chamebr 4 Ga becomes greaterthan normal and pilot diaphragm 45 is forced upward carrying with itstem 48. A shoulder 48a on this stem engages the relief valve 6I,lifting it from its seat, thereby placing the main valve pressurechamber t@ in direct communication with outlet pipe 88 through pasages88, 8| 85, 88, 84. chamber 4Ia, and passages 81a and 81 thus relievingpressure in said chamber. Release of pressure from chamber I8 allowsmain valve to close toward its seat in direct relation to the amount ofthe decrease in the iluid pressure.

When the supply passing through main valve I I is less than theconsumpon, fluid pressure in chamber lla becomes less than normal, andthe diaphragm v45 is deflected downwardly carrying with it stem 48. Therelief valve 8I slidably mounted on the 'stem 48 and supported by theshoulder 48a is disengaged from the shoulder, allowing spring 88 to holdit upon its seat. The pin 18 forces open the pilot valve 11,establishing uuid pressure now to chamber I8. This pressure forces themain valve farther away from its seat in direct relation to the fluidpressure supplied.

chattering, noisy operation and fluctuating reduced pressure flow causedby friction and binding valve parts and large lightning-like applicationot the high pressure fluid to the chamber I8, actuating the main valveII, are prevented by applying all forces in a straight line and by theuse of specially constructed valves and holders. Lightning-likeapplication of the high pressure fluid to the chamber I8 is prevented bythe Vvalve opening pin 11 being made the correct size to restrict theflow through port opening of pilot valve.

When the main valve II is in its normal position it is held closed bythe inlet pressure and the spring 84. By turning the adjusting screw 54,spring 58 is placed under greater tension and the pilot valve diaphragm45 is bowed inwardly, thereby causing the stem 48 and pin 18 to movedownwardly through the relief valve 8I. Said valve is compressed harderto its seat by the additional compression of spring 88, and the pilotvalve 11 is moved to the open position shown in Figure 2. The fluid canthen pass through passages 58 to chamber I8 and deiiect the main valvediaphragm I4 for opening the main valve I I. When said main valve isopen the fluid passes from the pipe 36 to the pipe 88.

Closure of the main valve II is had by the release of fluid pressurefrom pressure chamber I8. This release occurs on the opening of reliefvalve 8i. One opening is under the direct control of the pilotdiaphragms upward deflection carrying with it the stem 48. Theengagement of the shoulder 48a with the valve 8| lifts it olf its seat.The other operation which is independent of the pilot diaphragm 45 iswhere the valve 8l acts as an internal safety valve to the pressurechamber I8 and this becomes effective when said valve is forced off itsseat by iluid pressure acting on its face and overcoming the s forceholding it against its seat. As this valve is slidable upward on stem48, this force'is eected mostly by spring 88.

Illustrating this latter operation: Maximum safety pressure allowed on aheating system is l5.

lbs., while the operating pressure is 3 lbs. The reducing valve isnon-operative to any pressure in excess of lbs. A 10 lb. reducedpressure flow through the main valve II would require approximately lbs.fluid pressure within the pressure chamber I8, with a pressure of 180lbs. in the inlet chamber of each main valve. Now the proper selectionor setting of the relief valve spring 80 will allow the relief valve 8lto be opened by a 20 lb. fluid pressure acting on the valve face andwill render the reducing valve nonoperative to any reduced pressure nowin excess of l0 lbs.

The pin 18 not only opens the pilot valve 11 but it acts as a resistancein passage 88 to the flow of fluid from the inlet pocket 84 to theoutlet pocket 85 to prevent the sudden application of pressure tothemain valve diaphragm. By giving to the pin the proper diameter, thepressure can be limited to provide for the most effective operation ofthe valve. In other words, the pin may be readily replaced to give thebest results.

With expanding fluids, the maximum pressure attainable in the outletchamber 85 is controlled by the relative area inlet opening 88 to theoutlet openings 88, which permits control of the reduced pressure rangeby changing the size of the pin 18. Using the foregoing heating systemas an example, 180 initial pressure pin size would be the proper size tolinut the expansion of the fluid within the outlet pocket 85 and tocontrol the pressure'so that it would not exceed 20 pounds. The pin andthe internal safety valve fixed to a maximum pressure of 20 lbs. in theoutlet pocket with a maximum reduced pressure range of 10 lbs. in theoutlet of the main valve, would give a heating system better service anda greater degree of safety with one valve than can be attained with thecommon practice of today in having two reducing valves working intandem.

Ihe valves II and 11 are in the shape of a hard metal disk. Each has onthe underside at the center a semi-spherical recess which rereivescomplementarily-shaped projection at the center of the cup-shapedholder. 'Ihe cotter pins as shown at a retain the valves 11 and II inthe cup-shaped holders and fits loosely in the annular groove IIa on theedges of the disks. This construction of the valves provides forrotataion of the disks within the holders, free and frictionless seatingand longer life.

I claim:

l. A valve mechanism comprising a main valve and a pilot valveconstruction for controlling the operation of said main valve, means forretaining the main valve in closed position, pres sure-fluid operatedmeans for opening the valve, a iiat disc having a fluid passage, a pinin the passage having a diameter that will properly restrict the flow ofuid through the passage in the disk, a pilot valve moved to openposition by the pin, a spring-pressed diaphragm for moving the pin andvalve to open position, a body member enclosing the pilot valve andhaving passages for supplying fluid from the high pressure side of themain valve to the pilot valve and passages for conducting high pressurefluid against the retaining means of the main valve for causing openingof said main valve, a relief valve for releasing the high pressure fluidfrom the pilot valve body, a stem carried by the diaphragm, means on thestem for opening the relief valve when the diaphragm is operated by highpressure from the pilot valve.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a main valve having a diaphragm and apressure chamber for causing actuation of the diaphragm, a pilot valveconstruction including an inlet pocket and an outlet pocket, a casinghaving passages for the admission of high pressure fluid to the inletpocket, an outlet passage and passages connecting the outlet pocket withthe pressure chamber of the main valve, a pin for restricting the flowof high pressure fluid from the inlet pocket to the outlet pocket, apilot valve for controlling the flow of the fluid from the inlet pocketto the outlet pocket, a relief valve -i'or releasing fluid from thepressure chamber of the main valve and outlet pocket, and aspring-pressed diaphragm for causing opening of the pilot'valvel saidsecond-mentioned diaphragm being acted on by the fluid to permit closingof the pilot valve, means carried by the second-mentioned diaphragm formoving the relief valve to open position when the pilot valve is beingclosed, a spring acting on the second-mentioned diaphragm to normallymaintain the pilot valve open and the relief valve closed.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a diaphragm providing apressure chamber in the casing, a main valve being opened by thediaphragm when excess pressure is developed in the chamber, a hollowbody having a pilot valve diaphragm forming a compression chamber, aspring acting on the second-mentioned diaphragm tending to move saidsecond-mentioned diaphragm against pressure in the compression chamber,a stem connected to the diaphragm and projecting into the body member, apin operated by the stem, a disk dividing the hollow body memberoutwardly of the compression chamber into an inlet pocket and an outletpocket and provided with a passage through which the pin moves, thepassage having a greater diameter than the pin to permit passage of highpressure fluid from the inlet pocket to the outlet pocket, the diameterof the pin properly restricting the flow of fluid through the passage, apilot valve in the inlet pocket moved to open position away from thedisc, a spring urging the pilot valve to closed position, a reliefvalve, a spring acted on by the second-mentioned diaphragm for closingthe relief valve, said relief valve cutting off communication betweenthe outlet pocket and the compression chamber, said body member having apassage from the outlet pocket to the compression chamber, passagesconnecting the outlet pocket with the pressure chamber of a main valve,an exhaust passage leading from the compression chamber, and means forsupplying fluid under pressure to the inlet pocket, opening of therelief valve permitting exhaust of the high pressure fluid from the mainvalve pressure chamber.

4. A pilot valve construction comprising a casing, a diaphragm forming acompression chamber in the casing, a spring acting on the diaphragm, ahollow body member projecting from the casing, a stern connected to thediaphragm and projecting into the body member, a pin operated by thestem., a disk dividing the hollow body member into an inlet pocket andan outlet pocket and provided with a passage through which the pinmoves, the passage having a greater diameter than the pin to permitpassage of high pressure fluid from the inlet pocket to the outletpocket, a pilot valve in the inlet pocket moved to open position awayfrom the disk by the spring acting on the diaphragm, a spring urging thepilot valve to closed position, a relief valve, a spring acted on by thediaphragm for closing the relief valve, said body member having apassage from the outlet pocket to the compression chamber and passagesconnecting the outlet pocket with a pressure chamber of a main valve,means for supplying fluid under pressure to the inlet pocket, and meansfor aoljusting tension on the spring acting on the diaphragm.

5. A pilot valve construction comprising a casing having flexible meanstherein acted on at one face by pressure fluid, a spring acting on theother face, a pilot valve, a pin for causing opening of the pilot valve,means connecting the pin with the exible means, a main valveconstruction including a main valve and a flexible means for openingsaid main valve, the casing having a passage for conducting pressurefluid from the casing against the flexible means of the main valve, thepilot valve controlling the flow of said fluid, said casing including apassage for conducting fiuid against the first-mentioned flexible meansto cause closing of the pilot valve, means for supplying high pressurefluid to the casing, and a relief valve for controlling the flow ofpressure fluid through the passages, the casing having a passage forexhausting fluid under pressure away from the first-mentioned flexiblemeans and the second-mentioned flexible means, the relief valvecontrolling the exhaust of the fluid from the second-mentioned exiblemeans.

6. A valve construction for controlling actuation of a diaphragm to opena main valve comprising a casing having'passages for directing fluidunder pressure against the main valve diaphragm, a pilot valve forcontrolling the flow of fluid to said passages, and a guide and carrierfor said valve including a cup-shaped member to receive the pilot valve,a seat in the casing, a spring urging the pilot valve against the seat,said seat having a central opening, a pin loosely fitted in the opening,resilient means acting on the pin to open the pilot valve, means forsupplying fluid under pressure to a point at one side of the seat, and arelief valve for controlling the exhaust of the fluid from the otherside of the seat and also from the main valve diaphragm.

7. A valve construction comprising a housing, a diaphragm, a hollow plugscrewed into the housing and cooperating with the diaphragm to form apressure chamber, a valve seat in the plug dividing the hollow plug intoan inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, said seat having a passageconnecting the chambers, a pin in the passage restricting thecommunication between said chambers, a stem connected to the diaphragmand acting on the pin, a closure plug threaded into the bottom of thehollow plug, a valve holder in the closure plug having a cup, a valve inthe cup, and a spring urging the valve against the seat, a spring actingon the diaphragm for forcing the stem and pin against the valve tomaintain said valve open, means for supplying fluid under pressure tothe closure plug, said housing having passages connecting the outletchamber with the pressure chamber, and a relief valve for controllingthe flow of iluid from the outlet chamber to the pressure chamber.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a casing, a main valve controlling theflow of fluid through the casing, and a pilot valve construction forcontrolling the operation of said main valve, a compression chamberassociated with the main valve, a diaphragm connected with the mainvalve and forming a flexible wall for said chamber, an inlet pipesupplying fluid under pressure to the casing, a discharge pipe connectedwith the casing, said pilot valve construction including a body formedwith a pocket, a conduit connecting the pocket with the inlet pipe, thebody having a passage connecting the pocket with the compression chamberfor supplying fluid under pressure to one side of the diaphragm forcausing opening of the main valve, the body having a pilot compressionchamber, a spring-pressed pilot diaphragm forming one wall of said pilotcompression chamber, a valve operated by the pilot diaphragm andcontrolling the flow of fluid from the pocket to the first-mentionedcompression chamber, the body having a passage connecting the pilotcompressionchamber with the pocket, a relief valve held closed by thespringpressed pilot diaphragm and controlling the `lastmentionedpassage, said body having a passage connecting the discharge pipe Withthe pilot compression chamber so that pressure from said pipe will acton the pilot diaphragm to close the pilot valve, means operated by thepilot diaphragm for opening the relief valve after the pilot valve isclosed.

HARVEY G. VANCE.

